Free PARCC Practice Tests

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a group of eight states whose mission is to provide students with a more fair standardized test, regardless of geography or socioeconomic background. This consortium also includes the District of Columbia as well as the Bureau of Indian Education. The PARCC Test is an annual test given at the end of the year for students in 3rd through 11th grade, and is based on the Common Core standards.

Performance on the PARCC can be a determining factor in a student’s advancement to the next grade, and can also affect the funding of the student’s school depending on school-wide performance. PARCC practice tests and other resources are available for interested applicants. Utilization of these resources is vital for those looking to do well on the PARCC test.

PARCC Practice Tests and Recommended Study Resources

There are many online resources available for those looking to prepare for the PARCC. Many of these online resources can be found absolutely free online, such as:

PARCC Content Description

There are two forms of the PARCC Test:

The PARCC ELA/Literacy Exam- The PARCC ELA/Literacy Exam includes five performance tasks, requiring students to demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, speaking/listening, language, and vocabulary. These are measured based on the appropriate Common Core State Standards for the student’s grade level.

The PARCC Mathematics Exam- The PARCC Mathematics exam includes three sections, requiring students to demonstrate proficiency in various grade-appropriate tasks. Be sure you are studying appropriate PARCC practice tests for your grade level.

The PARCC ELA/Literacy Exam

The PARCC ELA/Literacy Exam is given to students in grades 3-11 in order to measure proficiency according to the Common Core State Standards. There are five main performance tasks required in the PARCC ELA/Literacy Exam, which are adjusted for the appropriate grade-level:

Literary Analysis Task

Regardless of grade level, this section usually consists of two passages. Students will be asked to show grade-appropriate proficiency in the following categories, as they relate to literary analysis:

Reading: Literary Text

Reading: Vocabulary

Writing: Written Expression

Writing: Knowledge of Language and Conventions

Literacy Short (Grades 3-5) or Long (Grades 6-11) Passage Set

This section consists of one short passage in grades 3-5, or one long passage in grades 6-8. Students will be asked to show grade-appropriate proficiency in some or all of the following categories, as they relate to literacy:

Reading: Literary Text

Reading: Literary Text or Informational Text

Reading: Literary Text or Reading Informational Text

Reading: Vocabulary

Research Simulation Task

This section contains two or three passages depending on grade-level. Students will be asked to show grade-appropriate proficiency in some or all of the following categories, as they relate to research:

Reading: Informational Text

Reading: Vocabulary

Writing: Written Expressions

Writing: Knowledge of Language and Conventions

Narrative Writing Task

This section contains one grade-level passage. Students will be asked to show grade-appropriate proficiency in some or all of the following categories, as they relate to narrative writing:

Reading: Literary Text

Reading: Vocabulary

Writing: Written Expressions

Writing: Knowledge of Language and Conventions

Informational Long (or Paired) Passage Set

This section contains one or two grade-level passage. Students will be asked to show grade-appropriate proficiency in some or all of the following categories, as they relate to informational passages (or paired passages):

Reading: Informational Text

Reading: Informational Text

Reading: Literacy Text

Reading: Major Claim

Reading: Vocabulary

Please be sure to use the appropriate ELA/Literacy PARCC practice tests for your grade level.

The PARCC Mathematics Exam

The PARCC Mathematics Exam is given to students in grades 3-8 in order to measure math proficiency according to the Common Core State Standards. There are three main task types required in the PARCC Mathematics Exam, which are adjusted for the appropriate grade-level:

Type 1- Concepts, Skills, and Procedures

This task type measures students’ conceptual understanding, fluency, and application of mathematical concepts on a grade-appropriate basis. This category may include:

All appropriate mathematical standards

Problems involving any major grade-level content

Problems involving any additional or supporting grade-level content

Type 2- Expressing Mathematical Reasoning

This task type measures students’ ability to express the way they used a particular mathematical concept on a grade-appropriate basis. This category may include:

Written Arguments/Justification

Expression of Reasoning Based on Written Justification

Critiques of Reasoning

Type 3- Modeling and Application

This task type measures students’ ability to identify and express ways to use mathematical concepts in a real-world application on a grade-appropriate basis. This category may include:

Modeling and Application of Concepts in a Real World Scenario

Solving of Real-World Problems by Modeling Concepts

Please be sure to use the appropriate Mathematics PARCC practice tests for your grade level.

PARCC Administration

Administration of the PARCC Test occurs at the participating school during school hours. Schools are given up to 30 days to administer the test, beginning at the 90% mark of the current school year.

Test administration times are as follows:

Grade 3

ELA/Literacy

Mathematics

Unit 1

90 Minutes

60 Minutes

Unit 2

75 Minutes

60 Minutes

Unit 3

90 Minutes

60 Minutes

Unit 4

60 Minutes

Grades 4-5

ELA/Literacy

Mathematics

Unit 1

90 Minutes

60 Minutes

Unit 2

90 Minutes

60 Minutes

Unit 3

90 Minutes

60 Minutes

Unit 4

60 Minutes

Grades 6-8

ELA/Literacy

Mathematics

Unit 1

110 Minutes

80 Minutes

Unit 2

110 Minutes

80 Minutes

Unit 3

90 Minutes

80 Minutes

Unit 4

Grade 9-11

ELA/Literacy

Mathematics

Unit 1

110 Minutes

90 Minutes

Unit 2

110 Minutes

90 Minutes

Unit 3

90 Minutes

90 Minutes

Unit 4

PARCC Test Fees

PARCC participating states have each entered into their own separate contract with Pearson Education, who is the primary test vendor for PARCC. In general, the PARCC state testing materials in math, reading, and writing cost an average of $23.97 per student.

This cost reflects computer based administration of the PARCC test, and any administrative fees

Schools that choose to administer a paper-based PARCC test may incur a higher fee per student.

The per-student cost includes both an ELA/Literacy test, as well as a Mathematics test

The per-student cost includes both performance-based as well as short-answer test items for both tests.

PARCC Requirements

Passing the PARCC test may be a requirement of graduation in your state. Be sure that you are enrolled in the correct test and have taken the appropriate PARCC practice tests for both ELA/Literacy and Mathematics.

PARCC Scores

PARCC score reports are delivered directly to the participating school. Parents may request a copy of their student’s PARCC score report. Score reports include the following information:

Overall Performance

Student’s scaled overall score is listed out of 850 possible points.

A performance level between 1-5 is also indicated, based on the student’s progression with grade-appropriate expectations

Performance Levels

This is the color-coded key which is provided to show the scale of the performance level indication in the above section. These levels are as follows:

Level 5: Exceeded Expectations

Level 4: Met Expectations

Level 3: Approached Expectations

Level 2: Partially Met Expectations

Level 1: Did Not Yet Meet Expectations

Score Graph

This section includes a graph which shows each performance level score range, as well as where the student falls within these ranges. This section also indicates:

How close the student is to the next level

How the student’s performance compares to other students in his or her same school

How the student’s performance compares to other students in the same district and state.

Score Breakdown

This is an additional report for the ELA/Literacy PARCC Test which indicates:

Overall reading and writing score

Numerical score for subsets in these categories

Various skill-specific performances within ELA/Literacy

Student’s strengths and weaknesses in ELA/Literacy

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Test is an important step towards graduation for many students. To determine which is your appropriate PARCC Test and begin on your PARCC practice tests, please visit http://www.parcconline.org/